WTF? Santon

[-V-]

30yr old Vicente has left Valencia to join.............................















........Brighton & Hove Albion

[doogle]

Read More http://www.journallive.co.uk/nufc/ne...#ixzz1Y6rQUVZT
Davide Santon ruled out for up to a month

Davide Santon
NEWCASTLE United new boy Davide Santon faces an operation and “at least” a month on the sidelines after cartilage damage was discovered in his troublesome right knee.

In a hammer blow for boss Alan Pardew the left-back reported pain after taking part in a full training session on Thursday morning and was sent for a scan. That confirmed cartilage damage and he will now undergo keyhole surgery which will see his United debut delayed until at least the end of October.

Realistically it could be even longer, with Newcastle determined to take a cautious approach to the Italy defender’s fitness now that a long-standing injury has flared up.

Pardew admitted the problem was a “worry”, but anticipating criticism of United’s decision to push through the £5million move from Inter Milan, he said nothing untoward had been discovered in a very thorough medical.

Newcastle must now face a tricky programme of fixtures with no recognised, specialist senior left-back. Ryan Taylor has proved an able deputy in the meantime, but he struggled against the pace and poise of Shaun Wright-Phillips on Monday night, and supporters will be anxious about this fresh blow to a player with a history of fitness problems.

“It’s a worry because it looks like it could be a cartilage, not the most serious type of injury but not something you want when he has just come into the building,” Pardew said.

“Maybe we are looking at a month out. He is going to have to get it cleaned out and then it is keyhole surgery nowadays which is a quicker operation, but it will certainly mean at least four weeks out.

“I'm not actually sure of the mechanics of how it occurred. He trained on Thursday and trained very, very well. But it's very important he has a good start at this football club, so we want to make sure he's 100%.”

Pardew insisted every precaution had been taken before Santon signed – including thorough investigation of his medical history.

Santon first damaged his right knee in April 2009 on international duty and underwent an operation in 2010 to correct the problem. But it looks like keyhole surgery will be required.

“David has had a few injuries in the last couple of years and that is not ideal especially as he has been through a really thorough medical,” he said. “He is a little bit unlucky if I am honest as we are only a week or so down from the medical.

“At Premier League level, with most clubs the medicals are very thorough irrespective of a player’s past history. He has had MRIs and his medical would have been no different from anyone else’s just as it was the same for Demba Ba, who has a history of knee problems.

“We did not have any plans to go beyond that for Santon because it did not flag up. We did not try to protect him in the medical. I just think he has been unlucky because there were no problems after reserve game.”

There is more positive news on Hatem Ben Arfa’s fitness. The midfielder (pictured left) has been pencilled in for a role in the midweek trip to Nottingham Forest – with Pardew keen to unleash his creator-in-chief.

“He has impressed us in training but he is not at Premier League level just yet although not too far away,” he said.

“On Tuesday, he will get a bit of a game but I am not tempted for Saturday because I do not want to take him all the way down to Villa because he would miss two days’ work for a ten-minute cameo. I also think we have enough fit players to deal with that game.

“And I think it is better than he puts in three more days work in before Forest.”

[Nick77]

This is why Inter let him go - if this is already his 3rd knee op then he will NEVER reach his true potential imo...

[Cormack74]

£5m for a crock. Inter must be pissing themselves.